A person, especially a man or boy; or someone who shares a job, interest, or situation with you, such as a fellow student.
From Old English “feolaga” meaning “partner, one who shares with another,” from Old Norse “félagi” meaning “business partner,” from “fé” (cattle, property) and “lag” (laying, sharing). It originally meant someone who shares property or work.
A “fellow” was originally your business partner—the person you literally shared your cattle or goods with. That’s why we still say “fellow students” or “fellow citizens”: the word is about shared status, not just gender.
'Fellow' in everyday English has been strongly associated with men ('fellows,' 'good fellow'), though in academic titles it has become more gender-neutral over time. Historically, women holding fellowships were sometimes linguistically marked as exceptions.
In institutional titles like 'research fellow,' treat 'fellow' as gender-neutral; avoid using 'fellow' as a synonym for 'man' or 'guy' in mixed-gender contexts.
["colleague","peer","member","researcher (for roles)"]
When discussing the history of fellowships, note when women were first admitted and how language around 'fellows' shifted as they entered these roles.
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